SACS Named as Grant Recipient

SACS to Receive 250K Federal Grant

Posted on 10/17/2018

SACS Receives $250K Grant from the Department of Justice to Support School Safety

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs announced Southwest Allen County Schools (SACS) as a $250K grant recipient selected to receive funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) program under The Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018. Of the 240 applicants, SACS was one of 183, and one of only two in Indiana, named as grant recipients.

Rachael Harshman, Director of Student Services, SACS, says, “We are thrilled to have been selected as a recipient of BJA’s STOP School Violence Act of 2018 grant. The funds will be used to enhance our existing safety measures and enable us to take more of a proactive approach to supporting the mental health and well-being of our school community.”

SACS has identified three main areas the grant monies will be used:

To hire a district, licensed therapist to collaborate with our schools to meet the needs of students and families over the course of their education journey at SACS.

To purchase evidence and research based curriculum to support students’ social and emotional well-being.

Dr. Philip G. Downs, Superintendent, Southwest Allen County Schools believes a main component of school safety is relationships. “Positive, quality relationships built on trust and communication are one of the keys to safer schools. When students know adults in the school care deeply about them, they feel safe to report what they are seeing, hearing and feeling.”

Harshman added, “The grant will enable us to continue to proactively build relationships with our students and community helping to prevent school violence while supporting the whole child.”